Apparatus, systems and methods for video output brightness adjustment

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are operable to increase brightness output from a display. An exemplary embodiment detects a predefined user action of a remote control, and then increases brightness of a currently presented image that is being presented on the display in response to detecting the predefined user action so that an ambient lighting level in the vicinity of the display is increased.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/573,929, filed Dec. 17, 2014, published as U.S. Publication No.2016/0180809, and entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VIDEOOUTPUT BRIGHTNESS ADJUSTMENT,” the content of which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Media devices, such as a set top box (STB), a television (TV), acomputer system, a game system, or the like, are often configured topresent video content on a display. The display may be an integralcomponent of the media device, such as in the case of a TV, or may beanother device coupled to the media device, such as a STB that controlsa TV.

These media devices and the associated displays are typically used in anindoors environment, such as at a residence or other suitable customerpremises. The media device and the associated display may be located inany suitable interior space, such as a living room, media room, familyroom, bedroom, den, kitchen, bathroom, office, or the like. Suchinterior spaces are referred to interchangeably herein as a media room.

At times, the media room where the media device and the associateddisplay are located may become relatively dark. For example, the mediaroom may have one or more windows to the outside environment. Aftersunset, when no ambient outdoor light is entering through the windows,and if no interior lights are providing interior light, the media roommay become relatively dark. As another non-limited example, the mediaroom may be a dedicated space specially designed for presentation ofmedia content, and thus have no windows and/or may have light blockingcurtains if windows are present.

When media content is being presented to one or more users in the mediaroom at times when the ambient lighting level is relatively low, theusers may have difficulty performing various tasks because of poorvisibility resulting from the lack of ambient light. For example, theuser may have difficulty viewing the controllers (buttons, etc.) on theremote control that control operation of the media device and/or theassociated display. As another example, the user may have difficultygrasping an object, such as a glass containing a favorite beverage.Further, in the event that the user needs to move about the media roomor perform some particular task within the media room, the user may havedifficulty seeing obstructions as they move about the media room.

Accordingly, there is a need in the arts to, at times, provide anincrease to the relatively low ambient lighting level in the media room.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods of increasing brightness output from a display aredisclosed. An exemplary embodiment detects a predefined user action of aremote control, and then increases brightness of a currently presentedimage that is being presented on the display in response to detectingthe predefined user action so that an ambient lighting level in thevicinity of the display is increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments are described in detail below withreference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a video output brightnessadjustment system implemented in a media device;

FIG. 2 conceptually illustrates a graphical representation of an exampleluminance curve;

FIG. 3 conceptually illustrates a graphical representation of the gammacorrected Y′CbCr color space with a brightness adjustment made by anembodiment of the video output brightness adjustment system;

FIG. 4 conceptually illustrates a graphical representation of anadditional gamma adjustment made to the gamma corrected Y′CbCr colorspace data made by an embodiment of the video output brightnessadjustment system; and

FIG. 5 is an example input user brightness adjustment setup GUIconfigured to provide user control of the video output brightnessadjustment system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a video output brightnessadjustment system 100 implemented in a media device 102, such as, butnot limited to, a set top box (STB). Embodiments of the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100 may be implemented in other mediadevices, such as, but not limited to, a television (TV), a digital videodisc (DVD) player, a digital video recorder (DVR), a game playingdevice, or a personal computer (PC) that is configured to receivepresent video content on a display 104. The display 104 may be anintegral component of the media device 102, such as in the case of a TV,or may be a component of a media presentation system 106 that iscommunicatively coupled to the media device, such as a STB that controlsa TV.

Embodiments of the video output brightness adjustment system 100 areconfigured to increase brightness output of a currently presented image(a still image or a video image) from the display 104 in response to apredefined user action. Accordingly, the otherwise relatively lowambient lighting level in a media room is increased by some amount ofluminosity that is discernible to a user in the media room. Theincreased brightness in the media room assists the user in performingsome task, such as operating a remote control, grasping an object,and/or moving about the media space.

Embodiments detect the predefined user action. In response to the useraction, embodiments automatically adjust (increase) the brightnessoutput by some predefined amount of increase in brightness, definedherein as a brightness increase value. Alternatively, or additionally,embodiments of the video output brightness adjustment system 100 mayincrease the brightness output based on a user specification.

Additionally, or alternatively, embodiments of the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100 may be further configured to adjustimage contrast and/or adjust the amount of gamma correction. Adjustmentsto the image contrast and/or to the amount of gamma correction may beused to improve image quality and/or modify the level of the changedoutput brightness.

One skilled in the art appreciates that an increase to the imagebrightness may cause, at least for some portions of an image, anappearance of image “whitewashing” where that portion of the image isperceived as a substantially white, and very bright, region of theimage. In such whitewashed regions, the image brightness data has beenincreased to, or has been increased nearly to, a maximum brightnessvalue. When a portion of the image has become whitewashed, the user isno longer able to perceive features of the image in the whitewashedregion. This effect is referred to in the arts as “clipping.”

To prevent this undesirable clipping effect, some embodiments of thevideo output brightness adjustment system 100 may be configured toadjust image contrast such that the brightness level of the clipped datais reduced back into a range of brightness values that can be readilyperceived by the user. Additionally, or alternatively, the level ofgamma correction may be adjusted by embodiments of the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100 to improve the visibility of the image.

In FIG. 1, the exemplary media device 102 is communicatively coupled toa media presentation system 106 that includes a visual display device108, such as a television (hereafter, generically a TV), and an audiopresentation device 110, such as a surround sound receiver controllingan audio reproduction device (hereafter, generically, a speaker 112).Other types of output devices may also be coupled to the media device102, including those providing any sort of stimuli sensible by a humanbeing, such as temperature, vibration and the like. The video portion ofthe media content event is displayed on the display 104 and the audioportion of the media content event is reproduced as sounds by one ormore speakers 112. In some embodiments, the media device 102 and one ormore of the components of the media presentation system 106 may beintegrated into a single electronic device.

The non-limiting exemplary media device 102 comprises a media contentstream interface 114, a processor system 116, a memory 118, a programbuffer 120, an optional digital video recorder (DVR) 122, a presentationdevice interface 124, a remote interface 126, and an optional lightdetector 128. The memory 118 comprises portions for storing the mediadevice logic 130, electronic program guide (EPG) information 132, videobrightness adjustment logic 134, video setting data 136, and thecontrast and gamma correction tables 138. In some embodiments, the videomedia device logic 130 and the video brightness adjustment logic 134 maybe integrated together, and/or may be integrated with other logic. Inother embodiments, some or all of these memory and other datamanipulation functions may be provided by and using remote server orother electronic devices suitably connected via the Internet orotherwise to a client device. Other media devices may include some, ormay omit some, of the above-described media processing components.Further, additional components not described herein may be included inalternative embodiments.

The functionality of the media device 102, here a set top box, is nowbroadly described. A media content provider provides media content thatis received in one or more multiple media content streams 140multiplexed together in one or more transport channels. The transportchannels with the media content streams 140 are communicated to themedia device 102 from a media system sourced from a remote head endfacility (not shown) operated by the media content provider.Non-limiting examples of such media systems include satellite systems,cable system, and the Internet. For example, if the media contentprovider provides programming via a satellite-based communicationsystem, the media device 102 is configured to receive one or morebroadcasted satellite signals detected by an antenna (not shown).Alternatively, or additionally, the media content stream 140 can bereceived from one or more different sources, such as, but not limitedto, a cable system, a radio frequency (RF) communication system, or theInternet.

The one or more media content streams 140 are received by the mediacontent stream interface 114. In a broadcast environment, one or moretuners 114 a in the media content stream interface 114 selectively tuneto one of the media content streams 140 in accordance with instructionsreceived from the processor system 116. The processor system 116,executing the media device logic 130 and based upon a request for amedia content event of interest specified by a user, parses out mediacontent associated with the media content event of interest. The mediacontent event of interest is then assembled into a stream of videoand/or audio information which may be stored by the program buffer 120such that the media content can be streamed out to components of themedia presentation system 106, such as the visual display device 108and/or the audio presentation device 110, via the presentation deviceinterface 124. Alternatively, or additionally, the parsed out mediacontent may be saved into the DVR 122 for later presentation. The DVR122 may be directly provided in, locally connected to, or remotelyconnected to, the media device 102.

From time to time, information populating the EPG information 132portion of the memory 118 is communicated to the media device 102, viathe media content stream 140 or via another suitable media. The EPGinformation 132 stores the information pertaining to the scheduledprogramming of media content events. The information may include, but isnot limited to, a scheduled presentation start and/or end time, aprogram channel, and descriptive information. The media content event'sdescriptive information may include the title of the media contentevent, names of performers or actors, date of creation, and a summarydescribing the nature of the media content event. Any suitableinformation may be included in the supplemental information. Uponreceipt of a command from the user requesting presentation of an EPGdisplay, the information in the EPG information 132 is retrieved,formatted, and then presented on the display 104 as an EPG.

The exemplary media device 102 is configured to receive commands from auser via a remote control 142. The remote control 142 includes one ormore controllers 144 disposed on the surface of the remote control 142.The user, by actuating one or more of the controllers 144, causes theremote control 142 to generate and transmit commands, via a wirelesssignal 146, to the media device 102. The commands control the mediadevice 102 and/or control components of the media presentation system106. The wireless signal 146 may be an infrared (IR) signal or a radiofrequency (RF) signal that is detectable by the remote interface 126. Insome embodiments, an optional light detector 148 resides on the surfaceof the remote control 142.

The processes performed by the media device 102 relating to theprocessing of the received media content stream 140 and communication ofa presentable media content event to the components of the mediapresentation system 106 are generally implemented by the processorsystem 116 while executing the media device logic 130. Thus, the mediadevice 102 may perform a variety of functions related to the processingand presentation of one or more media content events received in themedia content stream 140. The processes of adjusting brightness outputfrom the display 104 is generally implemented by the processor system116 while executing the video brightness adjustment logic 134.

When an image is presented on the display 104 to the user, the user willperceive color characteristics of the presented image and brightnesscharacteristics of the presented image. As is known in the arts, coloris characterized by a combination of red, blue and green colors.Brightness is an attribute of visual perception relating to the amountof light that appears to be radiating from the presented image. Thus,the user can perceive an image based on relatively small regions of theimage that have differing colors and that have differing brightnesslevels.

To facilitate transportation of the media content to the media device102 in the communicated media content stream 140, the image data and theaudio data may be transformed from an analogue domain into a digitaldomain. That is, the originally filmed video and audio information isconverted into digital image and digital audio data. The digital datamay then be compressed into a format that is suitable for communicationwithin the media content stream 140. Any suitable digitization andcompression technique may be used to process the media content forcommunication to the media device 102. For example, but not limited to,the data may be transported using one of the motion picture expertsgroup (MPEG) standards, such as the MPEG-1 standard.

When the video information is initially converted into digital data,very small regions of an image are mathematically described usingnumerical information. The numerical information for each small regiondescribes (defines) its brightness characteristic, its colorcharacteristic, and its location in the image. Three digital numbers maybe used to define, for each small region of the image, an amount of redcolor (R), and amount of green color (G), and an amount of blue color(B). Higher digital numbers correspond to increased brightness. Therelative amount of the red, blue and green colors define the perceivedcolor of the represented small region of the image. Thus, three numbersmay be used to define both the brightness and the color of eachrepresented small region of the image. When each small region of theimage is reproduced in accordance with the brightness and colorinformation, and when each small region of the image is placed inaccordance with its location in the overall image, the user perceivesthe entirety of the presented image. This representation of thebrightness and color information using a first number (a firstcoefficient) to represent the amount of red color, a second number (asecond coefficient) to represent the amount of green color, and a thirdnumber (a third coefficient) to represent the amount of blue color isreferred to in the arts as representing an image using a red-green-blue(RGB) color space.

However, digitally representing video information using RGB color spacedata is computationally inefficient. That is, a very large amount ofdata is required to represent each image. To reduce the amount ofdigital data required for image representation, the RGB color space datais converted into another digital data format. One example digitalformat compresses the digital data into a YCbCr color space.

The brightness and color information of each small region of the image,originally defined in a RGB color space, is encoded (interchangeablyreferred to as mapping) into digital data in accordance with the YCbCrcolor space of Equation 1.

RGB→YCbCr   (Eq. 1)

The Y coefficient is the luma component of the YCbCr color spaceequation, and defines the brightness for that particular small region ofthe image. The Cb coefficient is the blue-difference chroma componentand Cr coefficient is the red-difference chroma component for thecorresponding small region of the image. The equations used to transformimage information from the RGB color space into the YCbCr color spaceare well known to one skilled in the arts.

When the video information is communicated to the display 104, smallcolored light emitting elements in the display are actuated to emitlight in accordance with the specified brightness level and color forthat small region of the image. These small color emitting elements maybe referred to as pixels. Thus, when the color emitting elements, eachhaving known locations on the display 104, receive the brightness andcolor information for their particular location in the display 104, animage is generated and is presented to the user who is viewing thedisplay 104.

FIG. 2 conceptually illustrates a graphical representation 200 of anexample luminance curve, conceptually shown as a curve in the YCbCrcolor space. Similar color space graphical representations are equallyapplicable to other spaces such as, but not limited to, black and white(Y only) space, a hue saturation value (HSV) space, and other colorsspaces, such as a red, green, blue additive color model and itsassociation with the cyan, magenta, yellow subtractive color model(RGBCMY) space. The luminance curves may be applicable to analog ordigital format interfaces.

Generally, lumen output for a black color corresponds to a completeabsence of light. To illustrate, an ideal black pixel 202 is representedat the origin of the graph 200. Here, the ideal black pixel 202 wouldcorrespond to an output of no light from the display pixel, and isdefined to have a digital value of “0” by convention. The ideal whitepixel 204 is defined as outputting a maximum amount of white light fromthe display pixel, and is defined to have a digital value of “250” byconvention.

Digital representation of the lumen range adopted under acceptedindustry standards has added an amount of margin to the ideal blackdigital value and ideal white digital value. The margin results in amore pleasing perception by the user of a presented digital image. Themargin also reduces the likelihood of clipping when RGB imageinformation is converted into to the YCbCr digital format.

In an example digitization format, an amount of toe-room is used tolimit the maximum digital value used to represent a black color using avalue of 15, as conceptually illustrated by the black pixel 206. Anamount of head-room is used to limit the maximum digital value used torepresent a white color using a value of 235, as conceptuallyillustrated by the white pixel 208. Thus, a digital value selected alongthe straight line curve 210 may be used to define any level of greyscale. When the YCbCr color space defines pixel brightness and colorinformation along the straight line curve 210, the YCbCr color spaceequation is referred to as an absolute color space by one skilled in thearts of imaging technologies.

However, the human eye does not perceive degrees of light and colorinformation in accordance with the exemplary straight line curve 210.Rather, the human eye perceives light and color information on anonlinear scale which may be approximated using a logarithmic function.Accordingly, an improved digitization process employs a nonlinearcorrection factor during the digitization process. The nonlinearcorrection is referred to in the arts as gamma correction (orinterchangeably, as gamma nonlinearity, gamma encoding, or simplygamma). Equation 2 may be used to generally describe the gammacorrection function.

V_(out)=A V_(in) ^(γ)  (Eq. 2)

V_(out) corresponds to the gamma corrected output value of a pixeldefined by its digital YCbCr color space data. V_(in) is the inputdigital value of the YCbCr color space data. A is a constant (typicallyin the arts, A=1). The value of gamma (γ) is typically greater than avalue of one.

The gamma corrected values of the Y′CbCr color space data may beconceptually represented by the curve 212, with is typically alogarithmic curve. Thus, a relatively small incremental change(adjustment) in the digital data values that represent a darkergrayscale is readily perceptible by the human eye, whereas a greaterincremental change in the digital data values is required for aperceptible change for the lighter grayscales.

The brightness and color information of each small region of the image,originally defined in a red-green-blue (RGB) color space, is encoded(mapped) into digital data in accordance with the color space Equation 3below.

RGB→Y′CbCr   (Eq. 3)

The gamma corrected Y′CbCr color space equation above that definesbrightness and color information for the small portions of an image. TheY′ coefficient is the gamma corrected luma component of the Y′CbCr colorspace equation, and defines the gamma corrected value of brightness forthat particular small region of the image.

FIG. 3 conceptually illustrates a graphical representation 300 of thegamma corrected Y′CbCr color space with a brightness adjustment made byan embodiment of the video output brightness adjustment system 100.Gamma correction may be equally applicable in other color spaces asnoted herein above.

Here, a brightness increase corresponding to a brightness increase value302 is used to change (increase) the value of the gamma corrected Y′coefficient from a first value to a second value, wherein the firstvalue of the gamma corrected Y′ coefficient is received in the originalimage data, and wherein the second value is greater than the first valueby a predefined amount of the brightness increase value 302. Thus, theentire curve 212 is shifted upwards (by the amount of the brightnessincrease value 302) to the curve 212′.

In an example embodiment, the digital value of the gamma corrected Y′coefficient is increased by a predefined amount that corresponds to thebrightness increase value 302. The digital value used to increase thegamma corrected Y′ coefficient is a predefined value stored in the videosetting data 136 portion of memory 118 (FIG. 1). (In alternativeembodiments, the digital value may be stored in any suitable memorymedium and/or in any suitable location.)

For example, the brightness increase value 302, when applied to thegamma corrected Y′ coefficient of the previously described black pixel206 (see also FIG. 2), results in a pixel 206′. The brightness increasevalue 302, if applied to the gamma corrected Y′ coefficient of thepreviously described white pixel 208, results in a white pixel 208′.Accordingly, when the video portion is streamed out from thepresentation device interface 124 for presentation on the display 104,the brightness of all of the gamma corrected Y′CbCr color space data hasbeen increased by the brightness increase value 302, as indicated by thecurve 212′ (wherein the locations of each point on the curve 212 hasbeen shifted upward by the amount of the brightness increase 302).

When the brightness of the presented image is adjusted as describedabove, the increased output brightness from the display 104 willincrease the amount of radiated ambient light that is present in thevicinity of the display 104. The increase in ambient light improvesvisibility of objects, such as when the user is looking at the remotecontrol 142. Accordingly, the user is more able to discern thecontrollers 144 on their remote control 142. Further, the user is ableto better discern other objects and/or obstructions in the event thatthe user is moving about the media room and/or if they wish to bettersee an object that they would like to grasp.

However, one skilled in the art appreciates that although brightnessoutput from the display 104 has been increased by embodiments of thevideo output brightness adjustment system 100, some portions of thepresented image may become washed out due to clipping. That is, thosesmall portions of the image that were on the lighter side of the greyscale range may become washed out as their brightness level is increasedtowards the brighter white lumen output level, conceptually illustratedas being in the region 304 on the curve 212′.

In some embodiments, an adjustment to contrast is made to the gammacorrected Y′CbCr color space concurrently with the increased brightnessadjustment. Contrast of an image is the separation between the darkestand the brightest areas of an image. Contrast may be defined as a ratioof the luminance (brightness level) between the brightest white pixeland the darkest black pixel.

Thus, some embodiments of the video output brightness adjustment system100 may be configured to reduce the contrast of the image data so thatthe brightness levels of the otherwise clipped data is reduced to valuesthat are perceivable by the user who is viewing the image presented onthe display 104.

In an example embodiment, a scaling of the brightness values of thegamma corrected Y′CbCr color space is made using contrast settings.Electronic displays 104 have various control setting that are used tocontrol image quality. Two non-limiting examples of controllablesettings are image brightness and image contrast. During normalpresentation of video content on the display 104 (when the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100 is not operating to increase brightnessof the presented image), the image brightness and image contrastsettings for the particular display 104 are predefined to values thatresult in presentation of an image that has pleasing brightness andcontrast characteristics. An example embodiment, when implemented in atelevision or the like that includes a display 104 as an integralcomponent, adjusts both brightness and contrast settings when thebrightness output is increased.

To illustrate contrast adjustment, the contrast ratio is reduced so thatthe brightness of the pixel 208′ is scaled down to the original level ofthe brightness of the pixel 208. Thus, the exemplary contrast scalingreduces the brightness of all pixels in accordance with the illustratedcurve 306. In the various embodiments, any suitable type of and amountof contrast adjustment may be made.

One skilled in the art appreciates that the contrast adjustment willresult in a decrease in the overall output brightness of the imagepresented on the display 104. However, the net amount of the brightnessincrease with contrast adjustment may be selected so that a sufficientamount of increased light output from the display 104 occurs so as toimprove visibility of objects in the media room. In an exampleembodiment, a value defining the amount of the contrast adjustment is apredefined value stored in the contrast and gamma correction tables 138portion of memory 118 (FIG. 1). (In alternative embodiments, the valueof the contrast adjustment may be stored in any suitable memory mediumand/or in any suitable location.)

FIG. 4 conceptually illustrates a graphical representation 400 of anadditional gamma adjustment to the gamma corrected Y′CbCr color spacedata made by an embodiment of the video output brightness adjustmentsystem 100. Alternatively, or additionally, embodiments may make a gammavalue adjustment to the image data in conjunction with the increase inbrightness (and optionally, with the above-described contrastadjustment). The additional gamma adjustment may be equally applicablein other color spaces as noted herein above.

Here, the additional gamma correction, denoted by the curve 402,increases brightness of the output image presented on the display 104.Adjustment to the gamma value changes the shape of the logarithmiccurve, such as a change from the example curve 212 to the example curve402.

In an example embodiment, the gamma corrected Y′CbCr color space may bemapped to a gamma corrected Y″CbCr color space in accordance withEquation 4.

Y′CbCr→Y″CbCr   (Eq. 4)

Here, a gamma value adjustment is made by an example embodiment duringdecoding of the gamma corrected Y′CbCr color space data from the gammavalue y to the adjusted gamma value γ′. As noted above, the RGBinformation of encoded into the gamma corrected Y′CbCr color space forcommunication of the image data in the media content stream 140. Theprocessor system 116, decodes the received media content stream suchthat digital data is stored in the program buffer 120. During theprocessing of the media content stream data, the decoded gamma correctedY′CbCr color space data is adjusted by the new gamma value γ′ togenerate the Y″CbCr color space data. This buffered digital data Y″CbCris then streamed out from the presentation device interface 124 forpresentation on the display 104. In an example embodiment, the values ofthe additional gamma correction γ′ are stored in the contrast and gammacorrection tables 138 portion of memory 118 (FIG. 1). (In alternativeembodiments, the additional gamma correction γ′ information may bestored in any suitable memory medium and/or in any suitable location.

In some embodiments, an analog data stream may be generated from adecoding of the gamma corrected Y′CbCr color space data. Here, the Voutis the value of the output data communicated to the display 104.Equation 5 illustrates that the additional gamma correction y′information may be substituted for the original gamma correction γinformation when the output data is generated.

A V_(in) ^(γ′)=V_(out)   (Eq. 5)

In the various embodiments of the video output brightness adjustmentsystem 100, the brightness increase is made in response to detecting apredefined user action of a user. A brightness increase to a currentlypresented image is initiated in response to detecting one of a pluralityof predefined user actions corresponding to operation of the remotecontrol 142 that controls operation of at least one of the media device102, the display 104, and a component of a media presentation system106.

The predefined user action tends to indicate that an increase in ambientlighting conditions in the vicinity of the display 104 would assist theuser in performing some task, such as operating a controller, graspingan object, and/or moving about the media space. In an example situation,the brightness increase is made in response to a user action that isspecifically intended by the user to increase the brightness levels ofthe image output from the display 104.

Preferably, the brightness increase is initiated in response todetecting a single predefined user action. Other user actions are notintended to initiate an automatic brightness increase. In somesituations, there is (inherently) an absence of the use of the remotecontrol 142, at least for some duration, prior to the predefined useraction that initiates the brightness increase.

As an example of user actions that are not intended to initiate anautomatic brightness increase, some media devices 102 and/or displays104 may be configured to permit the user to make fixed adjustments ofone or more presentation attributes, such as, but not limited to, imagebrightness and/or contrast settings. The user performs a series ofoperations using the remote control 142, such as by navigating through apresented graphical user interface to make fixed adjustments to theimage brightness and/or contrast settings. Accordingly, furtherpresentation of images and/or video content is made in accordance withthe defined fixed adjustments made to the image brightness and/orcontrast settings. When the user is making these type of fixedadjustments to one or more image presentation attributes, the videooutput brightness adjustment system 100 does not operate toautomatically increase the brightness of the currently presented image.

Rather, the video output brightness adjustment system 100 is operable toinitiate a brightness increase in response to one of a plurality ofpredefined user actions. In some embodiments, a list of predefined useractions for which a brightness increase is initiated is preferablypredefined prior to use of the media device 102 by the user forpresentation of media content. The listing of the predefined useractions is saved in the video setting data 136 or in another suitablelocation.

In an example embodiment, the video output brightness adjustment system100 monitors activity at the media device 102 for an occurrence of oneof the predefined user actions. At some point, a user action of theremote control 142 is detected. Then, the detected user action iscompared with the stored listing that identifies the plurality ofpredefined user actions. The user action is identified as a predefineduser action when the detected user action matches with one of theplurality of predefined user actions. The brightness increase is theninitiated. Other detected user actions that do not correspond to one ofthe plurality of listed user actions do not cause the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100 to increase the output brightness.

These predefined user actions preferably occur when the user is likelyviewing the image or video content on their display 104 for recreationalpurposes. In such situations, the user may be preparing to use theirremote control 142 to control some operation of interest at their mediadevice 102, control operation of the display 104, and/or controloperation of a component of the media presentation system 106.

The user, for example, may be intending to use their remote control 142to change channels to different media content events, initiatepresentation of an EPG on the display 104, adjust the current volumesetting of the audio output, or use their media device for anotherpurpose, such as to access a web site or access on-demand content. Here,the user is not using their remote control to make a fixed adjustment toone or more presentation attributes.

However, at the time that the predefined user action is detected, theambient lighting conditions in the media room may be sufficiently lowsuch that the user is likely to have difficulty discerning thecontrollers 144 and/or the denoted controller functions. That is, theuser may not be able to clearly see the controllers 144 and/or the notedfunctions of the controllers 144 because of the relatively low ambientlighting conditions. With additional ambient (background) lighting inthe media room, the user would then be able to more clearly discern thecontrollers 144 and/or the noted functions of the controllers 144.

Alternatively, or additionally, the user may be intending to performsome other task that may be otherwise be more difficult to perform inthe absence of the increased brightness output from the display 104. Forexample, the user may wish to move about the media room while avoidingobstructions. As another non-limiting example, the user may wish tograsp some object, such as a beverage class or can, or a bowl ofpopcorn. As yet another example, the user may wish to view a printedprogram guide or other form of printed media. In such situations, theuser may, via their remote control 142, cause the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100 to initiate an increase in the outputbrightness of the image to assist the user in performing the task ofinterest.

Embodiments are configured to detect an initial actuation of one or moreof the controllers 144 of the remote control 142 (after some period ofnon-use of the remote control 142). In an example embodiment, a specificone of the controllers 144 has been predefined (designated) to have adedicated function of initiating the brightness increase. In response todetecting the initial (first) actuation of the designated controller144, the video output brightness adjustment system 100 operates toincrease the brightness of the presented image. That is, the user simplyactuates a particular designated one of the controllers 144 to cause anincrease in the output brightness of the image. Actuation of the othercontrollers 144 on the remote control 142 does not initiate a brightnessincrease.

In some embodiments, actuation of any one of a plurality of predefinedcontrollers 144 will initiate the brightness increase. In suchembodiments, actuation of any one of the plurality of predefinedcontrollers 144 initiates the brightness increase (while actuation ofother controllers 144 does not initiate the brightness increase).

In embodiments that have a dedicated one of the controllers 144 forinitiation of the brightness increase, the amount of increase in outputbrightness may be controllable by the user by successive subsequentactuations of the predefined controller 144. Here, a plurality ofincreasing brightness levels may be used to provide a stepwise increasein brightness output for each subsequent actuation of the predefinedcontroller 144. The subsequent actuations of the predefined controllermust occur within some predefined duration of each other, such as a fewseconds or the like. For example, a first actuation of the predefinedcontroller 144 initiates a first increase in brightness. A subsequentsecond actuation of the predefined controller 144 made within thepredefined duration increases the brightness output to a second higherlevel of brightness output. Such embodiments may employ any number ofpredefined incremental increases in brightness output for eachsubsequent actuation of the predefined controller 144.

As noted above, an increase in the output brightness of the imageincreases the ambient light level in the media room. However, increasingthe output brightness of the image may be desirable only when theambient lighting conditions in the media room are relatively low. Atother times when the ambient lighting conditions in the media room arerelatively high, the user may find that increasing the output brightnessof the image provides no discernible benefit. For example, the mediaroom may be a living room, bedroom, or the like that has one or morewindows to the outside environment. During daylight hours, sufficientdaylight may be entering into the media room such that an increase tothe output brightness of the image provides no discernible benefit tothe user. Further, increasing the output brightness of the image mayactually be a distraction to the user in this situation.

Accordingly, embodiments of the video output brightness adjustmentsystem 100 are configured to only increase the output brightness of theimage in response to the user selectively activating the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100. That is, brightness adjustments areinitiated only after the use has activated the video output brightnessadjustment system 100.

After the video output brightness adjustment system 100 has beenactivated (turned on) by the user, detection of the particularpredefined user action (such as by the user's initial actuation one ofmore of the controllers 144 on the remote control 142) initiates thebrightness increase. After the video output brightness adjustment system100 has been deactivated (turned off), that same user action will notinitiate an increase in the output brightness of the image. In anexample embodiment, one or more of the controllers 144 on the remotecontrol 142 may be configured to activate and deactivate the videooutput brightness adjustment system 100.

Alternatively, or additionally, a brightness adjustment setup graphicaluser interface (GUI) 500 may be presented on the display 104 to permitthe user to selectively activate and deactivate the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100. FIG. 5 is an example brightnessadjustment setup GUI 500 configured to provide user control of the videooutput brightness adjustment system 100. The user may navigate to aparticular selectable region 502 on the presented brightness adjustmentsetup GUI 500 to activate or deactivate (turn on/off) the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100. The current operating status(activated/on or deactivated/off) may be indicated on the presentedbrightness adjustment setup GUI 500. For example, the black fill on theselectable region 502 is understood by the user to indicate that thevideo output brightness adjustment system 100 is activated. Any suitablefill color and/or pattern may be used.

Alternatively, or additionally, text may be presented to the user toindication the operating status of the video output brightnessadjustment system 100. Here, the text “ON” indicates to the user thatthe video output brightness adjustment system 100 is currentlyactivated.

In the example brightness adjustment setup GUI 500, a user selection ofthe selectable region 502 on the presented brightness adjustment setupGUI 500 will deactivate the video output brightness adjustment system100. The textual indication, if used, is also changed (such as to “OFF”or the like)

Alternatively, or additionally, the current level of the ambientlighting conditions within the media room may be detected by embodimentsof the video output brightness adjustment system 100. In suchembodiments, the light detector 128 is disposed on the surface of themedia device 102 at a location that permits detection of the currentlevel of ambient lighting in the vicinity of the media device 102.

If the currently detected ambient lighting level is above (greater than,or at least equal to) a threshold lighting level, then the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100 will not be operable to cause anincrease in the output brightness of the image. That is, when thedetected ambient light level is greater than or equal to the thresholdlighting level, the video output brightness adjustment system 100 isdeactivated. If the detected ambient lighting level is below (less than)the threshold lighting level, then the video output brightnessadjustment system 100 is activated and will then become operable toincrease the output brightness of the image.

Alternatively, or additionally, the light detector 148 disposed at asuitable location on the surface of the remote control 142 is configureddetect the ambient lighting level in the vicinity of the remote control142. In this embodiment, the remote control 142 communicates thelighting level information corresponding to the detected lighting levelto the media device 102 via the wireless signal 146. The videobrightness adjustment logic 134 may then determine the ambient lightinglevel, and then may activate or deactivate itself based on the receivedambient lighting level information.

In another embodiment, the command to cause an increase in the outputbrightness of the image is communicated in the wireless signal 146 tothe media device 102 only at times when the ambient lighting level, asdetected by the light detector 148 of the remote control 142, indicatesthat the increased output brightness of the image is desirable (andtherefore, is less than the threshold lighting level). In thisembodiment, the remote control 142 determines when to initiate thebrightness increase based on the detected ambient lighting level.Accordingly, such embodiments of the remote control 142 include aprocessor to determine and compare current lighting levels with athreshold lighting level stored in a memory of the remote control 142.

In such embodiments, the wireless signal 146 with a command to initiatea brightness increase is only generated by the remote control 142 andtransmitted to the media device 102 when the currently detected ambientlighting level is less than the threshold lighting level. When thecurrently detected ambient lighting level is equal to or greater thanthe threshold lighting level, the wireless signal 146 with the commandto initiate a brightness increase in not generated and communicated.Here, the portion of the video output brightness adjustment system 100residing in the media device 102 is continuously activated, but onlyoperates to increase brightness if an instruction to increase brightnessis received from the remote control 142.

The threshold lighting level that activates/deactivates the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100 may be predefined by the manufacturerof the media device 102. Alternatively, or additionally, the value ofthe threshold lighting level may be specified by the user. The value ofthe threshold lighting level may be stored in the video setting data 136portion of the memory 118. In embodiments where the user specifies thevalue of the threshold lighting level at which a brightness increase isinitiated, a brightness adjustment setup GUI 500 may be presented to theuser. The user may specify the threshold lighting level via thebrightness adjustment setup GUI 500 in any suitable manner.

In some embodiments, a clock, time device, or the like may be used toactivate and deactivate the video output brightness adjustment system100. That is, a time of day is used to activate and deactivate the videooutput brightness adjustment system 100.

For example, the time of dusk and/or dawn may be known or may beestimated. When the media device 102 is being used after dusk, andtherefore is presumably being used at night, the video output brightnessadjustment system 100 may be activated (until the time that dawnarrives, when the video output brightness adjustment system 100 becomesdeactivated). Alternatively, the brightness adjustment setup GUI 500 maybe configured to permit the user to specify particular times of the daythat the video output brightness adjustment system 100 is to beactivated and deactivated.

In some embodiments, the user may specify a desired brightness increasevalue (amount) via the brightness adjustment setup GUI 500. Any suitableform of input may be used on a presented brightness adjustment setup GUI500. In an example embodiment, a slidable bar indicator 504 may bepresented to the user. The user may navigate about the presentedbrightness adjustment setup GUI 500 to adjust the position of anindicator 506 on the slidable bar indicator 504 to specify the desiredbrightness increase value. A textual indicator, here illustrated ashovering above the indicator 506, may be presented to the userindicating the value of the brightness increase value that the user hasselected. The textual indicator indicating the specified brightnesslevel may be located at other places on the brightness adjustment setupGUI 500. The brightness increase value may be stored in the videosetting data 136 portion of the memory 118.

Alternatively, or additionally, a numerical value corresponding to thebrightness increase value may be indicated on the brightness adjustmentsetup GUI 500. The user may navigate a pointer or the like (not shown)to the controller region 508 to increase the user specified brightnessincrease value. Here, the controller region 508 is shown as an upwardpointing arrow or the like to intuitively indicate to the user thatselection of the controller region 508 will increase the current valueof the user selection for the brightness increase value. Similarly,controller region 510 is configured to decrease the user specifiedbrightness increase value. Here, the controller region 510 is shown as adownward pointing arrow or the like to intuitively indicate to the userthat selection of the controller region 510 will decrease the currentvalue of the user selection for the brightness increase value. The valueof the user selected brightness increase may be stored in the videosetting data 136 portion of the memory 118.

In some embodiments, during specification of the brightness increasevalue by the user, a test image may be concurrently presented on thedisplay 104 with the brightness adjustment setup GUI 500. The outputbrightness of the presented test image may be dynamically adjusted asthe user adjusts the brightness increase value via the brightnessadjustment setup GUI 500. Any suitable test image (a still image or avideo image) may be used. Here, as the user increases the brightnessincrease value via the brightness adjustment setup GUI 500, the outputbrightness of the test image is increased. Conversely, as the userdecreases the brightness increase value, the output brightness of thetest image is decreased. Accordingly, the user will better appreciatethe magnitude of the brightness adjustment that is being selected by theuser.

In some embodiments, the amount of the increased output brightness ofthe image may be adjusted based on one or more characteristics of thepresented media content event. For example, some media content eventsmay have relatively darker scenes, such as when a particular scene isfilmed (captured) outdoors during the night. Other scenes may be verybright, such as when filmed outdoors during the day. Further, scenefeatures may impact the amount of emitted light. For example, a scenefilmed during the day at a desert or at a beach may be substantiallybrighter than a daylight scene that has been filmed at a park or in thejungle having a thick overhead tree canopy.

Accordingly, an embodiment may be configured to analyze the brightnesslevel of a currently presented scene (image) of the video of interest.For example, but not limited to, the Y′ value of the gamma correctedY′CbCr color space may be analyzed to determine an amount of light thatwill be normally output from the display 104 as that particular scene isbeing presented. Then, if the brightness value of the gamma correctedY′CbCr color space is increased, the amount of the brightness increasemay be scaled accordingly based on the current brightness. Here, adifference is determined between the brightness level of the currentlypresented image and a threshold brightness level. The amount of thebrightness increase corresponds to, or may be the same as, thedetermined difference.

That is, if the current brightness of the currently presented scene ishigh, the brightness increase (and optionally, the contrast adjustmentand/or gamma value adjustment) may be relatively less. Conversely, ifthe current brightness of the scene is relatively low, the brightnessincrease (and optionally, the decrease in the contrast and/or the gammavalue adjustment) may be relatively greater.

In another example embodiment, the current brightness of the scene isnormalized against some predefined value. Then, then amount ofbrightness increase (and optionally, the amount of contrast adjustmentand/or gamma value adjustment) is made based on the normalized scenebrightness.

For example, if the currently presented image or scene brightness isdetermined to be at a first normalized value, a first brightnessincrease value and/or a first contrast value decrease may be used toadjust the gamma corrected Y′CbCr color space data. If an adjustment inthe image or scene brightness is determined (and is computed to be at asecond normalized value), a second brightness increase value and/or asecond contrast value decrease may be used. If the first current sceneis brighter than the second current scene, the first brightness increasevalue would be less than the comparable second brightness increasevalue. And, the first contrast value decrease would be less than thesecond contrast value decrease. Such dynamic determination of theapplied brightness increases and the associated contrast adjustmentsresult in a more pleasing appearance of the presented video scenes.

In embodiments that employ the light detector 128 at the media device102 and/or the light detector 148 on the remote control 142, real-timechanges in ambient light conditions after the initiation of thebrightness increase may be optionally determined. If the determinedadjustment in image brightness (the difference in the before and afteradjustment in ambient lighting) does not exceed a threshold value,and/or does not at least exceed a threshold value, then embodiments ofthe video output brightness adjustment system 100 may dynamicallyoperate to further increase the brightness level. That is, if thebrightness increase is not sufficient, a greater brightness increase maybe made. Accordingly, at least some minimum level of increase in thebrightness of the ambient light may be enforced by the video outputbrightness adjustment system 100.

In some embodiments, the increased brightness level is maintained for apredefined duration. After the end of the predefined duration, thebrightness increase ends such that brightness is decreased to originalbrightness levels so that normal presentation of the video content onthe display 104 resumes. In the various embodiments, the duration of thebrightness increase is based on an assumption of the time that the useris likely to need the additional light to perform a specific task. Forexample, the brightness increase may last five seconds, ten seconds, orthe like, thereby providing the additional brightness for a durationthat permits sufficient time for the user to view the controllers 144 onthe remote control and/or to grasp an object.

In some embodiments, the duration of a brightness increase is predefinedat the time of manufacture of the media device 102. Alternatively, oradditionally, the duration of a brightness increase may be adjustable.In an example embodiment, the brightness adjustment setup GUI 500 isconfigured to permit the user to specify the duration of a brightnessincrease. A numerical value corresponding to the duration of abrightness increase, here shown to be thirty (30) seconds, may beindicated on the brightness adjustment setup GUI 500. The user maynavigate to the controller region 512 to increase the user specifiedvalue of the duration of a brightness increase. Here, the controllerregion 512 is shown as an upward pointing arrow or the like tointuitively indicate to the user that selection of the controller region512 will increase the current value of the user selection for theduration of the brightness increase. Similarly, controller region 514 isconfigured to decrease the user specified value of the duration of thebrightness increase. Here, the controller region 514 is shown as andownward pointing arrow or the like to intuitively indicate to the userthat selection of the controller region 514 will decrease the currentvalue of the duration of the brightness increase. The value of the userselected duration may be stored in the video setting data 136 portion ofthe memory 118.

Alternatively, controllers 144 on the remote control that are associatedwith particular numerals (numbers) may be used to specify the durationof a brightness increase. For example, if a duration of a brightnessincrease of thirty seconds is desired, the user may actuate theparticular controller 144 associated with the numeral three (3), andthen actuate the particular controller 144 associated with the numeralzero (0). Thus, the user may specify “30” using the controllers 144 toset the duration of a brightness increase to thirty seconds.

As noted above, some embodiments may have a dedicated one of thecontrollers 144 on the remote control 142 that is configured to initiatea brightness increase. In such embodiments, the duration of a brightnessincrease may be predefined to a particular duration. A series ofactuations of the dedicated controller 144 may be used to define thetotal duration of the brightness increase. For example, but not limitedto, the predefined duration of a brightness increase may be fiveseconds. If the user desires fifteen seconds of brightness increase, theuser would actuate the dedicated controller three times (wherein threeactuations corresponds to selection of three five second durations ofbrightness increase).

One skilled in the art appreciates that different types of displays 104respond differently to changes in brightness output, to changes incontrast, and/or to changes in the gamma coefficient. Example types ofdisplays 104 include projection TVs, plasma displays, liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs), cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Embodiments of the videooutput brightness adjustment system 100 are configured to selectparticular changes in brightness, contrast, and/or gamma correctionbased on the particular type of display 104 that is being used topresent images and/or video content to the user. The data correspondingto the various changes in brightness, contrast, and/or gamma correctionfor particular types of the display 104 may be stored in tables or thelike in the contrast and gamma correction tables 138 portion of memory118, or in another suitable memory location. That is, the determinedtype of display 104 is compared with a listing of display types, whereineach of the listed display types is associated with at least onecharacteristic that defines brightness of an image when the image ispresented by that display type. Accordingly, brightness of the currentlypresented image is increased based on the at least one of thecharacteristics associated with the determined display type.

Some embodiments may be configured to automatically detect the type ofdisplay 104 that is being used. For example, High-Definition MultimediaInterface (HDMI) compatible components are configured to exchangeddevice identifier information with each other. Accordingly, the mediadevice 102 may automatically determine the type of display 104 that itis providing images or video content to based on identity informationthat is exchanged between devices under the HDMI protocols.

Alternatively, or additionally, the brightness adjustment setup GUI 500may be configured to permit the user to specify the type of the display104. For example, a menu, listing, or the like of commonly availabledisplays 104 may be presented to the user. During setup of the videooutput brightness adjustment system 100, the user would select one ofthe identified display types via the brightness adjustment setup GUI500. Then, the data corresponding to the designated display 104 may beaccessed to obtain display-specific changes in brightness, contrast,and/or gamma correction when the brightness output adjustment is made bythat particular display 104.

In some situations, a plurality of users may be using the media device102. Some embodiments of the video output brightness adjustment system100 may be configured to use different levels of brightness, contrast,and/or gamma adjustments that are particularly pleasing to a particularidentified user. Any suitable apparatus or process of identifying aparticular user may be employed by such embodiments. Then, particularlevels of brightness, contrast, and/or gamma adjustments for eachdifferent user may be stored in memory 118. In an example embodiment,the brightness adjustment setup GUI 500 is configured to receive aspecification of a user identity. Thus, the user may configure the setupof the video output brightness adjustment system 100 so that theirfavorite levels of brightness, contrast, and/or gamma adjustments areused when a brightness increase is made.

In some embodiments, the detected predefined user action may be when theuser initially is picking up and/or touching the remote control 142. Inan example embodiment, a motion detection circuit detects motion of theremote control 142. Here, movement of the remote control 142 may beassociated with some forthcoming user action, such as picking up theremote control prior to use. Alternatively, or additionally, anysuitable biometric detector may be used to detect contact of the user tothe remote control 142. Thus, then the user picks up or otherwiseinitially touches the remote control 142, a brightness increase isinitiated.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thevideo output brightness adjustment system 100 are merely possibleexamples of implementations of the invention. Many variations andmodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. Forexample, saturation, sharpness and or tome mapping adjustments may bemade in addition to brightness and/or contrast adjustments to furthercontrol image characteristics. All such modifications and variations areintended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure andprotected by the following claims.

1. A method, comprising: receiving a media content stream at a mediadevice, wherein the media content stream includes a media content eventwith at least a video portion; communicating the media content eventfrom the media device to a component of a media presentation system thatis communicatively coupled to the media device, wherein the component ofthe media presentation system comprises a display, wherein thecommunicated media content event is streamed out from the media deviceto the media presentation system as a stream of digital data thatinclude a value that controls brightness of presented images, andwherein the media content event is presented on the display to a user;detecting, during presentation of the media content event to the user, apredefined user action of a remote control that controls operation of atleast one of the media device, the display, and another component of themedia presentation system; detecting, in response to detecting the useraction of the remote control, an ambient light level using a lightdetector; comparing the detected ambient light level with a predefinedthreshold lighting level to determine a difference between the detectedambient light and the predefined threshold lighting level; increasing,at the media device and in response to detecting the predefined useraction of the remote control, the value of the digital data to increasebrightness of a currently presented image that is being presented on thedisplay, wherein the increased brightness corresponds to the determineddifference between the detected ambient light and the predefinedthreshold lighting level; and continuing to communicate the mediacontent event from the presentation device interface of the media deviceto the display of the component of the media presentation system usingthe increased value of the digital data, wherein an ambient lightinglevel in the vicinity of the user is increased by the increasedbrightness of the presenting media content event such that the user ofthe remote control is able to more clearly discern a plurality ofcontrollers on the surface of the remote control and more clearlydiscern a denoted controller function associated with each of theplurality of controllers on the surface of the remote control.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein detecting the predefined user actioncomprises: detecting a user actuation of one of a plurality ofcontrollers on the surface of the remote control, wherein each one ofthe plurality of controllers is uniquely associated with one of aplurality of operations of at least one of the media device, thedisplay, and the other component of the media presentation system;identifying the controller that was actuated by the user; comparing theidentified controller with a stored listing that identifies a secondplurality of controllers that are predefined from the first plurality ofcontrollers; and identifying the user action as the predefined useraction when the identified controller matches with one of the secondplurality of controllers.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digitaldata is defined by one of a YCbCr color space or a Y′CbCr color space,where Y is a first coefficient that is a luma component of the YCbCrcolor space, where Cb is a second coefficient that is a blue-differencechroma component of the YCbCr color space, where Cr is a thirdcoefficient that is a red-difference chroma component of the YCbCr colorspace, and where Y′ is a fourth coefficient is a gamma corrected lumacomponent of the Y′CbCr color space, and wherein increasing brightnessof the currently presented image comprises: adjusting a value of a gammacorrected fourth coefficient Y′ from a first value to a second value,wherein the first value of the gamma corrected fourth coefficient Y′ isreceived in original image data, and wherein the second value is greaterthan the first value by a predefined amount.
 4. The method of claim 3,further comprising: adjusting a gamma value γ from a first value y to asecond value γ′, wherein the first value γ is used to encode theoriginal image data in the Y′CbCr color space, and wherein the secondvalue γ′ is used to decode the original image data in the Y′CbCr colorspace.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: maintaining theincreased brightness of the currently presented image for a predefinedduration; and decreasing the value of the digital data upon expirationof the predefined duration, wherein brightness of the presenting imageis decreased to an original brightness.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the predefined duration is a first predefined duration, andfurther comprising: detecting a second actuation of the predefinedcontroller within a second predefined duration; maintaining theincreased brightness of the currently presented image for a thirdpredefined duration in response to detecting the second actuation of thepredefined controller; and decreasing the brightness to the originalbrightness upon expiration of the third predefined duration.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein detecting the predefined user actioncomprises: detecting a user action of a predefined controller of theremote control, wherein a predefined function of the predefinedcontroller is to initiate the brightness increase of the currentlypresented image.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the increasedbrightness is at a first increased brightness level, and furthercomprising: detecting a second actuation of the predefined controllerwithin a predefined duration; and further increasing brightness of thecurrently presented image that is being presented on the display to asecond increased brightness level in response to detecting the secondactuation of the predefined controller, wherein the second increasedbrightness level is greater than the first increased brightness level.9. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to increasing the brightness ofthe currently presented image, the method further comprising: presentinga brightness adjustment setup graphical user interface (GUI) on thedisplay, wherein the presented brightness adjustment setup GUI includesan active region configured to receive a user specification of abrightness adjustment level; receiving the user specification of thebrightness adjustment level; storing the user specified brightnessadjustment level; and retrieving the stored user specified brightnessadjustment level in response to detecting the predefined user action,wherein the brightness of the currently presented image that is beingpresented on the display is increased in accordance with the userspecified brightness adjustment level.
 10. The method of claim 9,further comprising: concurrently presenting a test image withpresentation of the brightness adjustment setup GUI on the display,wherein brightness of a concurrently presented test image is increasedin accordance with the user specified brightness adjustment level. 11.The method of claim 1, wherein prior to increasing the brightness of thecurrently presented image, the method further comprising: presenting abrightness adjustment setup graphical user interface (GUI) on thedisplay, wherein the presented brightness adjustment setup GUI includesan active region configured to receive a user specification of aduration for which the increased brightness of the currently presentedimage is maintained; receiving the user specification of the duration;storing the duration; and retrieving the stored user duration inresponse to detecting the predefined user action, wherein the brightnessof the currently presented image that is being presented on the displayis maintained for the duration of the user specified duration, andwherein the brightness is decreased to the original brightness uponexpiration of the user specified duration.
 12. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining a type of the display; and comparing thedetermined type of display with a listing of display types, wherein eachof the listed display types is associated with at least onecharacteristic that defines brightness of an image when the image ispresented by that display type, wherein brightness of the currentlypresented image is increased based on the at least one characteristicassociated with the determined display type.
 13. A media device,comprising: a media content stream interface configured to receive amedia content stream with a plurality of serially presented mediacontent events therein, wherein the media content event includes atleast digital image information that is communicated from the mediadevice to at least one component of a media presentation system, whereinthe at least one component of the media presentation system has adisplay, and wherein the digital image information is presented on thedisplay to a user; a remote interface configured to receive a wirelesssignal communicated from a remote control, wherein the remote controlcommunicates the wireless signal in response to a user actuation of acontroller that is disposed on a surface of the remote control; apresentation device interface that communicatively couples the mediadevice to the at least one component of the media presentation system;and a processor system communicatively coupled to the media contentstream interface, the remote interface, and the presentation deviceinterface, wherein the processor system is configured to: communicatethe media content event from the presentation device interface to the atleast one component of the media presentation system that iscommunicatively coupled to the media device, wherein the communicatedmedia content event is streamed out from the presentation deviceinterface of the media device to the display of the component of themedia presentation system as a stream of content, wherein the streamingvideo portion of the media content event is communicated as digitaldata; detect, during presentation of the media content event to theuser, an actuation of the controller on the remote control based on thereceived wireless signal communicated from the remote control; detect anambient light level using a light detector; compare the detected ambientlight level with a predefined threshold lighting level to determine adifference between the detected ambient light and the predefinedthreshold lighting level; increase, at the media device, a value of thedigital data from an original value to an increased value, wherein theincreased value increases brightness of a currently presented image thatis being presented on the display in response to detecting the actuationof the controller, wherein an ambient lighting level in the vicinity ofthe display is increased by the determined difference between thedetected ambient light and the predefined threshold lighting level, andwherein an ambient lighting level in the vicinity of the display isincreased to at least the predefined threshold lighting level such thatthe user of the remote control is able to more clearly discern thecontroller disposed on the surface of the remote control and moreclearly discern a denoted controller function associated with thecontroller.
 14. The media device of claim 13, wherein the processorsystem is further configured to: continue to communicate the mediacontent event from the presentation device interface of the media deviceto the display of the component of the media presentation system,wherein the communicated media content event is streamed out from thepresentation device interface of the media device using the increasedvalue of the digital data during a predefined duration; and decrease thevalue of the digital data upon expiration of the predefined duration.15. The media device of claim 13, wherein the processor system isfurther configured to: reduce a contrast of the currently presentedimage concurrently with increasing the brightness of the currentlypresented image.
 16. The media device of claim 13, further comprising: alight detector communicatively coupled to the processor system andconfigured to detect a level of ambient light, wherein the processorsystem is further configured to: determine the ambient light level basedon the detected level of ambient light detected at the light detector;and compare the detected ambient light level with a light levelthreshold, wherein brightness of the currently presented image isincreased only when the detected ambient light level is less than thelight level threshold.
 17. The media device of claim 13, wherein thedigital data is defined by one of a YCbCr color space or a Y′CbCr colorspace, where Y is a first coefficient that is a luma component of theYCbCr color space, where Cb is a second coefficient that is ablue-difference chroma component of the YCbCr color space, where Cr is athird coefficient that is a red-difference chroma component of the YCbCrcolor space, and where Y′ is a fourth coefficient is a gamma correctedluma component of the Y′CbCr color space, and wherein the processorsystem is further configured to: adjust a value of a gamma correctedfourth coefficient Y′ from a first value to a second value, wherein thefirst value of the gamma corrected fourth coefficient Y′ is received inoriginal image data, and wherein the second value is greater than thefirst value by a predefined amount.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinthe processor system is further configured to: adjusting a gamma value γfrom a first value γ to a second value γ′, wherein the first value γ isused to encode the original image data in the Y′CbCr color space, andwherein the second value γ′ is used to decode the original image data inthe Y′CbCr color space.
 19. A system, comprising: a remote control thatcommunicates one of an infrared (IR) signal or a radio frequency (RF)signal in response to a user actuating one of a plurality of controllersdisposed on the surface of the remote control; a light detector thatdetects ambient light; and a media device communicatively coupled to adisplay, the remote control and the light detector, such that when thesystem is being operated by a user: the media device receives a mediacontent event that includes a streaming video portion that iscommunicated to and presented on a display, wherein the streaming videoportion of the media content event is communicated as digital data; themedia device, from time to time, receives one of the IR signal and theRF signal communicated by the remote control; the media device receivesinformation from the light detector corresponding to a detected ambientlight level; the media device, in response to receiving one of the IRsignal and the RF signal communicated by the remote control, comparesthe detected ambient light level with a predefined threshold lightinglevel to determine a difference between the detected ambient light leveland the predefined threshold lighting level; the media device increasesa value of the digital data from an original value to an increasedvalue, wherein the increased value increases brightness of a currentlypresented image that is being presented on the display such that theambient lighting level in the vicinity of the display is increased bythe determined difference between the detected ambient light level andthe predefined threshold lighting level, and so that the ambientlighting level in the vicinity of the user is increased to at least thepredefined threshold lighting level such that the user is able to moreclearly discern the plurality of controllers on the surface of theremote control and more clearly discern a denoted controller functionassociated with each of the plurality of controllers on the surface ofthe remote control.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the lightdetector is disposed on one of the surface of the remote control and asurface of the media device.